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No. 608,552. 7 Patented Aug. 2, I898. W. A. MACK.

BOBBIN CASE RETAINER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

(Application filed Doc. 28, 1896.) (N0 Model.)

VITNESSES: INVENTOR n a G vQC Q QM.-

AM ATTORNEY uonnlsrzreas :01. P nu. WASHINGTON u c I UNITED? STATES PATENT Qrrrcs.

WILLIAM A. MACK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BOBBlN-CASE RETAINER FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,552, dated August 2, 1898.

Application filed December 28,1896. Serial No. 617,169. (No model.)

To crZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. MACK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, Guyahoga county, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bobbin-Case Retainers for Sewing-Machines, of which the following description, taken in connection with the drawings herewith accompanying, is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of sewing-machines employing a rotary or oscillating shuttle in which the bobbin and bobbincase are removably contained, so as to be readily detachable therefrom to allow of the bobbin being newly supplied with thread, 850.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple locking-latch or means for removably securing the bobbin-case and bobbin in operative position within the shuttle that may be readily and conveniently operated and which may also serve when in an unlocked position as a convenient means for the operator to grasp when handling the bobbin-case to place the same within the shuttle or'remove it therefrom. This object I Secure by the means embodying my invention, as hereinafter set forth in'detail, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure lrepresents a front elevation of a frame or case having a shuttle-raceway and containing a shuttle and bobbin-case embodying my improved means for lockingthe latter in its proper operative position within the shuttle. Fig. 2 is a section of the same, taken through line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged central sectional-view of the bobbin-case removed from the shuttle, showing the locking-latch in an open or unlocking position and a portion of the shuttle-pin on which the bobbincase is supported. Fig. 4 is a section taken through line 4 4 of Fig. 3, with the locking device in a closed or looking position.

To explain in detail, or represents a frame or casing having a shuttle-raceway a therein, which frame is adapted to be secured to the under side of the bed-plate of a machine to support the shuttleb, contained therein, in proper operative position relative to the path of the needle. The shuttle b is provided with the usu alcen trally-arran ged bobbin-casesupporting pin b, which latter is provided with an annular rim or projection 12 adjacent to its outer end, which projection, as herein illustrated, is formed by a recess being out into the said pin, although it 'will be obvious, as will hereinafter'appear, that it may be otherwise formed without departure from my invention.

c is the bobbin-case, having a central sleeve 0, adapted to fit over the pin b of the shuttle and be supported thereon in the usual manner. The front or face wall of this bobbincase is provided with a radial slot 0 therein, in which a latch or locking device c is pivotally secured, with one end 0 arranged to extend when the latter is in a closed position into the opening within the sleeve 0, so as to engage with the said projection b on the bobbin-case-supporting pin 17, whereby the bobbin-case may be removably held or retained in its operative position within the shuttle. The outer or opposite end 0 of said latch when the latter is in a closed position, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, projects beyond the periphery of the bobbin-case'and is adapted to eX- tend within arr opening a which is formed within a stationary part or arm a of the shuttle-race framea and when in such position hold the bobbin-case from rotary movement. When the bobbin-caseis to be inserted into or removed from the shuttle, the upper or operating end of the latch is adapted to be drawn outward-from the face of the bobbincase, and thereby move its inner locking end 0 out of the space within the sleevec' and away from its position for engaging with the annularprojection 11 upon the pin b, as shown in Fig. 3. After they bobbin-case has been inserted into the shuttle, however, the latch is then turned back to its normal closed position, so as to move its locking end'c into a position behind the projection'lfion the pin 1) to engage therewith and hold the bobbincase within the shuttle. The latch is adapted to be movably held in a normal closed or looking position by any suitable holding means, the means, as herein illustrated and as more clearly shown in Fig. 4, consisting of a spring d, which is seated within a recess 0. upon the face of the bobbin-case, with one end d thereof extending laterally through an opening a in the said face-wall of the bobbin-ease into a position to engage with the latch within a recess 0, formed in one side thereof. The latch-engaging end (1' of the spring (I, which movably extends into the path of the latch, so as to snap or spring into the recess therein when the latter is closed, is formed with a curved or rounded surface, so that it may be readily forced from the path of the latch when the latter contacts therewith in being closed and also be readily forced from its holding position within the recess in thelatch when pressure is applied to the latter in being drawn open.

The said spring (I, being formed of wire and having one end thereof extending into a position for engaging with the latch c", as described, is, as herein illustrated, arranged with its opposite end (P extending across the slot 0 in the bobbin-case and forminga bearing upon which the latch is pivotally supported. The single piece of wire (7, thus forming a support or bearing for the latch and a means for movably holding the same in its normal closed position, forms a very cheap and simple means for such purposes and is also very desirable and important in that it affords an easy and convenient means for assembling the parts. For instance, when the latch is to be connected with the bobbin-case in assembling the parts it is first placed in the slot 0 in said bobbin-ease and the wire (I is then inserted into position with its end if extending into suitable openings or bearings in the bobbincase wall and through an opening in the latch,thereby form in a hinged connection of the latch with the bobbin-case, and with its opposite end (1 extending into its said position to form a yielding or spring catchv for the latch. The wire (1 is removably secured in such position by means of aserew c, which is tapped into the face of the bobbin-case in a position adjacent to the end of said wire, so that its head will bind against the same and hold it in position. To remove the latch, the scrcw c is first loosened and the wire (I then drawn outward from. connection with the latch. The middle or intermediate portion of the wire (7, being located in the recess or depressed portion of the face wall of the bobbin-case, is in a convenient position to be reached by the operator for removing the wire or for adjusting the position of its spring end (1* relative to the latch, but does not interfere with the thread in passing over the face of the bobbin-case. As a convenient means for securing a hold. upon the latch to open the same I have provided a lip c thereon which the operator may engage with his thumb or finger nail or with any other suitable means to draw the same open. This lip extends upward and is provided with an outer tapering surface, so as not to present any obstruction or interfere with. the thread-loop when passing over the same. \Vhen the latch. is opened,

as shown in Fig. i), it affords a convenient means for the operator to grasp in handling the bobbin-case when inserting the same into the shuttle or removing it therefrom.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination, with asewing-niachine shuttle having a pin provided with a rim or projection adjacent to its outerend, of a bobbin-case provided with a single latch or lever pivotally supported thereby with one end extending, when in locking position, directly into engagement with the projection on the shuttle-pin, and its opposite end being movable in a direction outwardly from the face of the bobbin-case to disengage its locking end from the shuttle-pin and. afford a handle for the bobbin-case.

2. The combination,witha sewing-machine shuttle having a pin provided with a rim or projection adjacent to its outer end, of a bobbin-case provided with a single latch or lever pivotally supported thereby with one end extending, when in locking position, directly into engagement with the projection on the shuttle-pin, and its opposite end being movable in a direction outwardly from the face of the bobbin-case to disengage its locking on d from the shuttle-pin and afford a handle for the bobbin-ease, said latch having a lip or projection on its face side as a means to engage and lift the same.

3. The combi11ation,with a sewing-machine shuttle having a pin provided with a rim or projection adjacent to its outer end, of abobbin-ease provided with a single latch or lever pivotally supported thereby with one end extending, when in locking position, directly into engagement with the projection on the shuttle-pin, and its opposite end being movable in a direction outwardly from. the face of the bobbin-case to disengage its locking end from the shuttle-pin and afford a handle for the bobbin-case, and means for engaging with said latch to hold the same in a closed locking position.

t. In a sewing-machine, the combination with a shuttle having a pin provided with a rim or projection adjacent to its outer end, of a bobbin-case provided with a single latch or lever pivotally supported thereby with one end extending, when in locking position, directly into engagement with the projection on the shuttle-pin, and its opposite end extending,when the latch is in its said locking position, into engagement with a stationary part of the machine to hold the bobbin-ease from rotary movement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Thecombinati0u,with a sewing-machine shuttle having a pin provided with a rim. or projection adjacent to its outer end, of a bobbin-case provided in its face wall with a slot and a recess respectively, a single latch or lever pivotally supported in said slot i n. the bobbin-case with one end extending,when in locking position, directly into engagement with the projection on said pin, and its opposite operating end being movable in a direction outwardly from the face of the bobbincase to disengage its locking end from the shuttle-pin, and having a notch in one side thereof, and a spring-catch seated in said recess in the bobbin-case to engage with the latch Within'the said notch therein and hold the same in a closed position.

6. The combination,with a sewing-machine shuttle having a pin provided with a rim or projection adjacent to its outer end, of a bob bin-case provided with a slot in its face wall, a single latch or lever pivotally supported in said slot in the bobbin-case with one end eX- tending, when in looking position, into enbin-case.

WILLIAM A. MACK. Witnesses:

CHAS. C. EMMONS, D. 0. CALL. 

